HOLLADAY — The vacant ground where the Cottonwood Mall once stood should be sold to a developer who can afford to build something there, according to a pair of candidates in the upcoming municipal elections.

Leading the charge is Holladay City Councilman Barry Topham, who wants to replace six-year Mayor Dennis Webb.

Topham, a 67-year-old private-practice dermatologist, first got into politics because he opposed plans for the mall. He is also against plans for the village-center project, which would put three-story buildings and apartments near City Hall.

"My feedback is that most people seem very upset with the developmental trends of the city in recent years," Topham said.

Beyond disapproving of building heights in the proposed projects, Topham has railed against "secret meetings" held between General Growth Properties, the mall owner, and city officials.

In response, Webb, a 60-year-old investor and entrepreneur, has disseminated a letter from city attorney Craig Hall saying the city has always been in compliance with state open-meetings law.

Webb said there is little that can be done about the Cottonwood Mall property because it's on private land. But he stands by his original decision to offer tax breaks for development of the property.

Holladay's most important issue right now is leadership, Webb said.

"The best indication of future performance is to look at past performance," he said. "There has been a sense of healing take place that is quite apparent over the last several years I have been mayor."

Standing in line with Topham on the Cottonwood Mall issue is Steve Fotheringham, a 73-year-old retired business executive running to fill the District 3 council seat currently occupied by Councilwoman Pat Pignanelli.

Fotheringham said he would use his contacts in the Eastern United States to find a buyer. He would also push for stop signs and speed bumps along Spring Lane, he said.

Pignanelli, a 71-year-old educator, has pushed hard for a walkway through Creekside Park during her tenure. She wants to see that effort through to completion and hopes to improve communication between residents and city officials, if re-elected, Pignanelli said.

Sabrina R. Petersen, a 42-year-old homemaker, and Carol Scott, a 68-year-old small-business owner, are competing in Holladay City Council District 1. They ousted incumbent Grant Orton in the Sept. 15 primary election.

Scott said she wants to unify the city through town hall meetings, and she approves of plans for the mall and village center. The interior decorator strongly opposes tax increases.

Petersen said she believes the city has already given General Growth Properties sufficient tax incentives but wants to see the developer move forward with the mall to boost city tax coffers. If elected, she would use her newly created Facebook page to keep residents up to date, she said.

E-mail:rpalmer@desnews.com